Maker: Tadafusa Shirogami (click to see more by this maker)Price: $229.95
Item num: 85691Blade length: 7.10 in.Total length: 12.50 in.Blade width: 1.75 in.Blade thickness: 0.12 in.Item weight: 5.20 oz.Shipment weight: 7.85 oz.Blade: Single bevel white steel #2 (shirogami) carbon steel forge-welded to mild steel for an extremely hard (62 Rc) cutting edge that will be easy to maintainBolster: Buffalo hornHandle: Ho woodDescription: Usuba Hocho are used for cutting meats and vegetables into extremely thin slices typical of Japanese cuisine. These blades are quite thin and should not be used on hard rind vegetables. Both the handle and the blade are created specifically for left-handed use.
Traditional Japanese chef's knives differ from European styled knives in that they are sharpened with a bevel on only one side. The opposite side is slightly hollowed. Consequently, these knives can be honed to a sharper edge than can double bevel knives.
The professional level blade is forged using the Hon Kasumi technique -- a forging process which creates the misty appearance at the lamination line between the two kinds of metal. These blades are hand forged from a combination of hard Shirogami Hagane 'white steel' forge-welded to a piece of Jigane mild steel. The most exacting standards as well as considerable time are required for this type of forge work. After forging, each blade is individually tempered to Rockwell 62 (very hard!) leaving a razor edge that is very easy to keep sharp.Availability: In stock. Usually ships in 1-2 business days